Random ramblings of a mad man: On social media

There was a time, in the not so distant past when discretion was a generally accepted norm in society. One had close confidantes that you might share things with, but on the whole we valued our discretion.
Even us narcissists  were able to keep our affliction in check. We had limited time and opportunity to share our self laden stories, and that suited every body just fine.

A friend of mine who has various forms of social media is barely active on his facebook, and less so on his instagram. I asked him once what that was about. He said he found the whole social media malarky rather odd. His analogy was this: "it's like standing on the rooftop of Sandton City and asking everybody to listen to my views". I couldn't disagree with that.

While Faz's views were quite right I also had a rethink about that stance. Social media can be quite awesome at times. For instance, some of the funniest things you'll ever see appear randomly on twitter. More than that, there's so much to learn from the myriad of views and opinions that it can at times be a worthwhile twenty or thirty minutes spent there. Follow the right people and more often that not you'll learn something.
It can also be quite moving. Recently when baby Sibaphiwe had seemingly been kidnapped by irrational hateful people, the genuine concern and empathy on display spoke to who I think South Africans are generally. A caring sympathetic society.

Just when you get caught up in the warm and fuzzy feeling of who South African twitter users are, however, one musician will insult another and right then, the harmony will be ruined. The most outlandish, and outrageous views will suddenly emerge from nowhere. Those are the worst days on twitter! That kindergarten level discourse can make you rethink your use of data on that medium.

But then, facebook will offer you the solace of wedding, baby, and throwback picture albums. The comfort of those pictures and comments will pep your spirits right up. Whether it's pics of a now unrecognisable version of you (because you're 20kg's heavier than in the photo) or baby pics  of a splitting image of someone you know. Either way it'll be well worth the while.

After a while on social media some will start to disregard that discretion I mentioned earlier. Personal details about love lives, and intimate moments will be revealed. I am by no means a prude but I'm not sure how comfortable I am reading a quite explicit question relating to things only grown ups should engage in. I'll be honest and say I'm even less comfortable reading about the ladies who I follows cycles'. I grew up surrounded by many females, and never once was I confronted by details of their cycles. This phenomenon I find on social media. I'm always taken aback by it. But as the old adage goes "each to their own".

I suppose even my last example has been a relevant learning curve. Even if it is a curve I could do without... Big up to the education social media offers. And big up to ourselves for setting aside our discretion for the greater good. And narcissism...

Random ramblings of mad man: On marriage...

It's never been as simple as, find the one you like, get along like a house on fire and settle down. Were it that simple we'd all be living happily ever after. It's all too complex. Tiringly so! To those who have found "the one" you deserve a medal! What you have done is monumental! It is no wonder wedding celebrations are so big!

To those of us who are yet to reach those lofty heights here's a few things to ponder... Top most I suppose must be, how did I get here? How am in my thirty's and still yet to settle down? Where did I deviate from the path that my age mates are clearly following?! Those feelings of "ain't shitness" linger quietly in the underbelly of your subconscience. The self doubt creeps in. At that point, consider yourself paralysed. You can no longer perform any form of cerebral analysis on the situation. All that's happening is self blame coupled by self pity.

But, in reality it's actually not that bad. For one, by not getting married, you haven't got divorced! Scant consolation perhaps, but it's not nothing! Also, you have probably got to know yourself better than you thought possible. You will probably have learned to get comfortable in your skin before genuinely learning to love yourself. You now understand that in reality your life partner is not there to "complete you" or provide your happiness. Your life partner is there to compliment your happiness. She's there to enhance what would be the best moments. Perhaps even to provide them.

Either way, I find myself quite looking forward entering in to this contract should it ever work that I find someone willing to enter in to it with me. Quite apart from the awesome party that weddings are, I look forward to all the ups that come with having a life partner. I guess I even look forward to the downs, coz you know, they make the ups so much more worth it.

Random ramble of mad man: Funny anecdote re Lesotho politics

My old man has many anecdotes that he tells about his life and times. I've heard most of them more times than I care to admit. But there's one that I quite enjoy.
1993 saw Lesotho hold its first general election in some 20years. At that election the BCP won just about a landslide victory, and became the new government of Lesotho, taking over from the military regime.
 Many interesting things happened.

The anecdote goes something like this. My old man had been a lifelong BNP supporter and had worked under the BNP government. His final posting was actually under the military government where he was sent to RSA to interact with the inevitable ANC government. He did this until the change of government in Lesotho in '93. What was interesting, was that when the new government took over, instead of "recalling" my father and, thus, ending his tour but leaving him as a civil servant of the government of Lesotho. He was instead summarily dismissed from the civil service. It was only a few weeks later when the principles at foreign affairs saw this minor error and instead sent a letter "recalling" him from his tour. Unfortunately, or fortunately my old man was now in somebody else's employ. Apparently the higher ups were not at all impressed by that state of affairs, and were seething that he had not gone home to do a number of procedural things that should've happened in a
matter like that.

Some years later my old man was sitting at his "local" (An infamous petrol station where all too many senior government people are known to take a drink) when he was confronted by the superior who had written the letter releasing him from his dutys. The official and my old man shared a drink and laughed at the situation. The official bemoaning his principals' eagerness to dismiss the old man. He admitted that they didn't enjoy his dismissal as much as they'd hoped, as they had not got the chance they'd sought for my old man to have to suffer the ignominy of reapplying for a position in the civil service.

Lesotho politics is fraught with many similar examples to the one cited above. You don't even need to go too far back to note such examples. I hope that this kind of animosity, and malice will die the death it deserves. I really hope Basotho will rise above the petty partisan politics that have engulfed the country essentially since independence. I hope this coming election will act as a new dawn, and Basotho will embrace their unity and homogenity.
Khotso. Pula. Nala.

The random ramblings of a mad man: Political situation in KOL

The political situation in Lesotho has to be the most fascinating, and indeed bewildering in the world. Whoever thought up the old adage “never a dull moment” must have been speaking about the politics of the mountain kingdom. While the country has had a chequered past, it is the present that most beggars belief to many, myself included.

A homogenous group devoid of ethnic or racial cleavage has successfully managed to tear themselves into groups of “us and them”. With “us” ruling the roost for too long, before “them” taking over the reins and in turn exacting retribution.

Many scholars and laymen alike have in the last two or so weeks become experts on Lesotho’s constitution. Many have quoted directly from the constitution and interpreted or misinterpreted what the constitution sought to say to whatever end they liked. I have no interest in adding my two cents worth to that particular debate. I think only a court battle can really resolve that matter, although you can bet whichever side loses said battle will be screaming blue murder. Mine is a simplistic view of the situation. It will seem to some as though my view is coloured by the political sentiment my surname is supposed to hold. Perhaps it is even worthwhile to mention that the leader of the official opposition is an uncle of mine. With all of that said, I will offer my views and ask some questions on this current situation.

It all started with some discontent in what was then the biggest party in the ruling seven party (yes seven party) coalition in Lesotho’s parliament. A seven party coalition in a country the size of America might make sense, but in a place like Lesotho it smacks of desperation. Desperation, to ascend to the high seats of government. I am aware that what is now the opposition would have been making similar overtures to the same parties, and my view would have remained the same had they succeeded in coaxing the other parties in to a marriage of convenience. Anyhow, the discontent seems to emanate from a misunderstanding between the then deputy leader Mr Moleleki and party leader PM Mosisili. There seems to be a lot of nuance behind this split, and I don’t think I know enough about the situation to wade on in on it so I won’t. However, that discontent ultimately led to a rather acrimonious split in the Democratic Congress. This split led to Mr Moleleki convening a new political party of his own. He and 14 MP’s who originally belonged to the DC moved to the cross bench in parliament, thus signalling their intention not to vote with the ruling alliance. In an uncharacteristic move, parliament was then closed sine die (excuse my Latin). Well, uncharacteristic will be debatable but certainly the opposition parties were displeased about what they felt was a sudden and early closure of parliament.

Following those events, three leader of Lesotho’s opposition (ABC,BNP,RCL) who had taken exile in neighbouring Free State returned to Lesotho. The leaders had fled the Kingdom owing to alleged threats to their lives. Upon return, the leaders announced that they would be entering in to an alliance with Mr Moleleki’s newly formed AD. This meant that in terms of parliamentary numbers the opposition now had the largest voting bloc.

When parliament was opened following its recess, the opposition duly tabled a motion of no confidence. Said motion was passed through a vote. I happened to watch these events unfold and was surprised by a few things. The first being that when the budget speech-which had been tabled prior to the recess-was being filibustered by the opposition, it was the sole duty of the speaker of parliament to ensure the matter was heard. Not one MP from the government stood to make a point of order decrying the oppositions behaviour. To many including myself, it seemed the speaker was doing the bidding of the government. While I am aware that the speaker is a constituency leader of what was then the biggest party in the ruling alliance, I am also aware that in parliament she harbours no biases, and should remain impartial at all times. As soon as the vote was passed the Prime Minister is said to have gone to the king to advise him that parliament should be dissolved and the country should go to elections. A third election in one term. And here is where I would like to weigh in.

In other Westminister democracies, when PM’s have a vote of no confidence against them, it signals their ousting. Many will do the honourable thing and resign. It has happened recently in the Australian parliament, and then of course there is the case of David Cameron, who didn’t even face such a vote, but took as implied when he lost the so called Brexit vote. In Lesotho’s case we had an unusual situation where the Prime Minister vowed even prior to the vote to cling to power. He indeed met with the king to give him the advice he said he would. My question as a layman is this, who did he go to the king as? The national assembly who asked the king to appoint him as prime minister no longer wanted him in that position. So, when he was advising the king, in what capacity was he doing so? Many will cite the constitution in this regard. Like I have said, until the courts have pronounced on the matter (if they do) I am not so sure about the interpretation. Then my next question relates to the following sequence of events. With the opposition having seemingly done everything constitutionally accurately (in their interpretation) how did it come about that the king didn’t hear the advice of the council of state which it seemed certain would convene to discuss such a matter? If the king was satisfied that the election was the relevant course of action why not hear the council of state and completely satisfy himself that indeed his thought process and the advice of the prime minister was sound. Though again, I question a process that allows somebody who has essentially been impeached deciding on his own future in such a fashion.

There has been a sentiment that suggested, it is right and proper to go to elections as this new coalition of four may not be the will of the people. I don’t deny that, but I would respond that it is as much the will of the people as a seven party coalition. In fact had “the will of the people” been a factor in the Kingdom, a two party grand coalition between the biggest party’s ABC and DC would have made sense aft the 2015 election. The idea that the MP’s are acting willy nilly and without the ratification of their constituency may well be right, but those MP’s will be aware that there is recourse to that action, as their constituent members may vote them out.

My last question is this. In a scenario where said election is pushed through, which it seems it will. How will the election take place without money? In an unprecedented situation, the country has had not had a budget tabled nor accepted by parliament. As I understand it, this means whatever money had been allocated in the prior budget will return to the consolidated fund as of the 31^st of this month. That it was approved last year has no bearing on this financial year. So, how will Lesotho conduct an election without money?

 This whole situation is one big conundrum. I have no doubt the things happening in the background are worthy of a Harlan Coben novel. I have been intrigued, bewildered, amused and at times disturbed by the events in the Mountain Kingdom over the last two to three weeks. I wonder if this soap operatic course of events has any end in sight?

Random ramblings of a mad man: Opinions...

One of my favourite sayings is "opinion's are like an asshole. Everybody's got one". While rather crass, it really does encapsulate my feelings on the matter. The best thing about the world is that everybody's got an opinion. The worst thing about the world (sometimes) is that those opinions don't match yours!

In sport, a popular cliche goes that you learn more from a defeat than a victory. This is probably true in the realm of opinion too. The view that differs from yours, forces you to analyze it critically. It forces you to think about it. Well, for as long as it is not an extremist view espoused by uncouth characters who will say anything for a rise.

So, my favourite thing is writing my blog, and interacting with folks who disagree with me. Though they generally won't comment on the actual blog (I agree it's a hassle to have to logon and so on). Sometimes I'll be in a place of recreation. Enjoying some fine nectar the Gods have given us, and someone will say, you know you were talking rubbish in that one blog of yours. Nothing more exhilarating than that. Trying to make the person see my point of view, while they try earnestly to make me see the error of my ways. It really helps you learn.

The most heated debates I have are not politics, or religion. In fact the most heated remain related to sport! Teams, team selection still invoke the most passion out of the people I engage with. Those are often quite fun exchanges, but if I'm honest I learn nothing from those interactions, because I will not change my views on Man United, Kaizer Chiefs, the Lions or Saints first fifteen.

Long may the will to share opinions continue! Long may we continue to teach one other through conversation!